If you’re looking for an original, genre-bending artist whose music sweeps you off your feet and transports you into their own captivating world, look no other than the dreampop stylings of New York’s own Michael Rider. At times ethereal in combining gorgeous electronic effects with sparkling piano playing, always entrancing with its poetic stories (“It’s three AM in the morning/it’s half past time the hour/monsters roaming free downstairs/skeleton man takes a pill from his pocket/and sits right next to me” from opening track “Wide Awake”) and intimately soothing vocals, Rider’s…

It seems this statement becomes more critical with each passing year, but truly in 2019, it is more important than ever to stay socially and politically – and yes, musically – informed by facts and driven by hope, positivity and equality. New York-based alt-rockers Ode To No One have all these qualities and more in spades, using their platform to take action by advocating for the power of love and the strength in diversity. Ode To No One’s latest single and music video, 2018’s “One and the Same” (check it…

Here in Illinois, as I write this at the beginning of December, it’s been winter for over a month. We’ve endured multiple ice storms, a blizzard that dumped 12 inches of snow in some spots, and even a day when no fewer than 26 tornadoes touched down across the state. Even by Illinois standards, that’s unusual. There have been plenty of evenings where the most appealing thing to do is curl up by the fireplace, make a pot of swirling hot chocolate, and find the perfect music to help you…

How often do you hear the phrase “less is more”? Do you believe those words? Do you apply them to certain aspects of your life? Every once in a while a band comes along that reminds you just how much sheer beauty can be created within the musical ideology of minimalism. Enter Des Moines, Iowa pop-punk/acoustic trio Night Like This. A surprisingly overlooked quality that many of the most popular and beloved artists in modern history share is that multiple members contribute vocals. (The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac…

In recent years we’ve seen a notable and refreshing surge in bands wearing their classic rock influences on their sleeve, helping connect the next generation to many of the greats we and our parents listened to. Greta Van Fleet is a large-scale example, but another up-and-coming quartet is bringing back classic bluesy-rock vibes and mixing it with their own modern alt-rock sound for a highly memorable blend. Enter Waterloo, Iowa’s Guss Royall. The “about” section of the band’s Facebook page makes it clear in just a few words what Guss…

This week’s edition of Unsigned Spotlight shines on Chicago-based indie rock duo Bernie & The Wolf, comprised of singer/songwriter Bernadette “Bernie” Conant and Erik “The Wolf” Lobo. B&TW’s sound is a mix of chaotic alt-rock and indie rock with a few math elements, all balanced with the shimmering beauty of the vocals and occasional acoustic guitar. It combines to create a sound that is very much the duo’s own and firmly stands out from the crowd. Hot on the heels of their 2017 LP Catch Some, Bernie & The Wolf…

This week’s Unsigned Spotlight takes us over to Lincoln, Nebraska alt-rock quintet After Arizona. Tinged with the classic grittiness of Midwestern rock & roll and the heart-on-your-sleeve honesty of modern emo, After Arizona have formed a sound listeners won’t forget anytime soon. Listening to the band’s 2016 single “I Can’t Do This On My Own” (watch the lyric video below!), you’re equally amazed at how refined the band’s sound already is and excited at what future releases will bring. This song is a fast-paced banger with lyrics that deal in…

For many artists and fans alike, music isn’t just a source of pleasure – it’s also an essential release, a temporary escape from the world, an unfailingly loyal friend that’s always there to help you through life’s tougher moments. Like it’s personally reaching out to connect with the listener. Relatability and passion personified – that’s what you get from every last moment spent with Wheaton, IL pop-punk/acoustic act Latenightsinmycar. The band’s 2018 EP, titled Daydreams, deals in such intricacies as past relationships and dealing with loss but also the hope and…

There are so many beauties in music. It transcends time. It transcends age. It transcends genre. It transcends language. It also transcends religion. Fayetteville, North Carolina’s We Were Once may be a Christian rock band at heart, but this is a band and sound I would highly recommend to any alt-rock fan regardless of your religious beliefs. We Were Once released their debut EP Piece By Piece in September 2014 and have made big waves throughout both their local rock scene and the Christian music scene, winning Rockshop’s Battle of…

You know that extremely rare but amazing feeling that comes when you hit play on a new band’s song and you realize about five seconds in that it’s love at first listen? In this edition of Unsigned Spotlight, we’re sharing the gold we struck upon finding Milwaukee alt-rock powerhouses Dreamhouse. With their own brand of soaring alternative rock with punk and pop undertones, Dreamhouse leave you in no doubt they’re here to stay with a sound that’s both highly refined and clearly defined. 2017 saw the band follow up their…

About Us

Infectious Magazine was born out of passion. Out of a love for the live music scene and the feelings and emotions that one incredible live show, one perfect album, or one incredible song can inspire. We seek to bring you not only the latest news on your favorite bands, but on the bands that we know will become your favorites. We strive to keep the scene alive by exposing emerging artists, while also introducing our readers to stories of success, struggle, and motivation in our latest slew of music business features.